Arc week begins with a mix of flat and jumps action in
Britain and we start at Newton Abbott where there are a number of potentially
well treated animals in the 2m 5f handicap hurdle.
Galileo Silver and College Oak will be winning races from
their current mark but I hope that is also the case with High Wells (3.40) who
was last seen finishing fourth in the Mallard Handicap at Doncaster on the flat
earlier in the month. The selection has run consistently well on the level this
summer winning two of his five starts since joining the yard of Graeme
McPherson and the hope is that he can transfer that improvement to the winter
game. Note good or faster ground suits.
There is plenty of pace in the 2m handicap chase with
Pingshou and Scardura both confirmed front-runners and there is the possibility
they will help set the race up for Monsieur D'Arque (4.10) who was outstayed
over an additional half-mile at Warwick last week and the hope is that Harry
Skelton can produce the bottom-weight over the last couple of fences. Scardura
overjumped and unseated Robbie Dunne at the first at Perth last time but had
previously ran a cracking race in a decent novice chase at Stratford that is
working out well.
Sunrise Ruby (4.40) has been a beaten favourite in four of
her five starts over hurdles but has run consistently well in defeat and she
can finally add to her Southwell Bumper success on debut in the Maiden Hurdle
over 2m 5f. Nicky Henderson's mare looks versatile with regard to underfoot
conditions although the combination of a step back up in trip on decent ground
looks ideal.
If Tipalong Tyler (5.10) is in the same form that allowed
him to turn a Warwick handicap into a procession seven days ago, then a 7lbs
penalty is unlikely to prevent him following up. The selection – who was fitted
with first-time cheek-pieces last time – looks likely to be given a double
figure hike in the weights when they are announced on Tuesday, so Kayley
Woollacott is almost obliged to run her gelding this afternoon. If the headgear
works the oracle a second time, I believe she will be tough to beat.
At Newcastle, this evening and I hope to see Arnold (6.45)
go one better than when runner up over 6f here last time when he would surely
have won with a clearer passage. The 6-y-old drops back to the minimum trip
this evening and the hope is that there is enough pace to help him settle. A
draw in stall two is another hurdle to overcome as is a 4lbs rise in the
weights, but he has won from higher marks in the past and he gets the vote for
Ann Duffield.
Black Star Dancing (7.15) set a strong gallop when fourth
over 10f last week and I hope to see Tony Hamilton – who takes over in the
saddle this evening – make plenty of use of his 3-y-old dropped back in trip to
a mile. The selection had previously finished third over this distance of a
mile at Ayr and I hope to see him break his maiden tag at the 11th
time of asking. He is bred to appreciate an all-weather surface and cost $110,000
as a yearling.
